Buying a home is a very exciting time.  It’s also probably one of the biggest decisions you’ll make. Having the right real estate professional on your side can make a world of difference.

Most homes on the market are listed for sale with an agent who represents them and makes sure the seller’s interests are protected.  As a buyer, it’s extremely important to hire your own agent to represent you throughout the buying process and to protect your interests.

8 good reasons to hire your own Realtor when buying a home:

1. It’s free to hire a buyer’s agent 99% of the time
2. Red flags. When viewing homes, your agent can point out potential red flags
3. Local knowledge. Real estate markets can differ by city and even neighborhoods.  Your agent will be able to share information with you about local markets so you’re well-informed.
4. Financing. Your agent can help you evaluate and secure financing
5. Negotiating power. Your agent will advocate for you and negotiate on your behalf so you get the best price and terms possible
6. Minimize stress. You’re more likely to close on-time when you have an agent keeping everyone on track, and working diligently through any issues along the way
7. Objective. Buying a home can be emotional. Your agent can be objective and help you weigh the pros and cons of potential properties
8. Time. Your agent will save you time

Remember, the agent listed in a home ad, holding an open house, or listed on the yard sign represents the Seller’s interests, not yours. So, step 1 to buying a home should be to hire a Realtor to represent YOU.

Take the hassle out of home shopping

The internet has made shopping for homes extremely easy and provides a lot of information. Most people begin their search for a home by going to sites such as Realtor.com, Zillow, or Trulia. That’s completely understandable. But, those sites do not always have the most current information and are oftentimes 5 to 10 days behind the market. So, by the time a property shows up on those online sites the home is often already under contract.

With so many online home search sites available, searching for a home on your own can take a LOT of time.  It can also be very frustrating when a home you like isn’t really available even though that site said it was.  You can avoid that by having your Realtor set you up for a real-time MLS home search, which is a HUGE time saver.  Once you ‘re set up for a search, you’ll be emailed a list of properties matching your criteria, including any homes that have had price reductions and are now within your budget. And if you’re in a market like Columbus, where properties sell quickly, it can be a huge advantage to learn about a new property as soon as it hits the market so you can get in to see it right away.

Selecting the right agent for you

So, how do you find and pick a Realtor? Well, hopefully  you’ll contact me at 614-208-9794 or jodydeeds7@gmail.com so we can meet in person and see if we would be a good fit together. There are a lot of choices out there, but not all Realtors are right for all people. Chances are you know one from within your own social circle, or have referrals from neighbors, friends, and family members. Here’s a tip: try not to pick someone so close to you that you can’t have a serious conversation, or that you’re uncomfortable disagreeing with. You need to find someone who is not only great at his or her job, but someone you like, as you’re going to be spending a lot of time with that person.  So get together for coffee and chat.  See if you click.

Determine if that person has the experience, customer service and understanding of the market that you’re looking for.  Notice how quickly the Realtor responds to your call or email; more than 24 hours is a bad sign. If they’re slow to respond to you, they’re probably slow to respond to others on your behalf during negotiations and could cost you the deal.

Expect to sign a buyer representation agreement. Before you disclose confidential information to your Realtor, you should have a signed buyer representation agreement.  That helps to protect everyone’s interests and ensures that your Realtor will keep private information confidential.

Have questions?  Call 614-208-9794 or email jodydeeds7@gmail.com. I’ll help you buy sell love Columbus.